The Times Square New Year's Eve ball drops once during the official countdown.
The ball begins its descent at 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and reaches the bottom of its pole at midnight, marking the start of January 1. Although the event includes many hours of performances, lighting effects, and smaller countdowns for other time zones, the official New York midnight ball drop happens only once.
The tradition began in 1907, when the first ball was lowered from the roof of One Times Square. It replaced a fireworks display that could no longer be held in the area after city authorities prohibited fireworks. The ceremony has since become a symbol of New Year's Eve celebrations around the world.
Television broadcasts can make the event seem more repetitive because they replay the descent or show practice countdowns. Several media networks also stage earlier countdowns for children or viewers in other regions. Those are separate broadcasts and do not mean the official Times Square ball descends multiple times at midnight.